Voldemars Sudmalis
Encyclopedia
Voldemārs Sudmalis was a Latvia
n football
defender, one of the most popular post-war footballers from Liepāja
. Sudmalis is considered the most skillful footballer in the history of Liepāja
, he had a good speed, tactical strength and he played well with the head.
from 1942 to 1944. After the Second World war when Olimpija was reformed as Daugava Liepāja
Sudmalis at first stayed with the club but in 1946 he was called up to Riga
to join FK Dinamo Rīga which played in the Soviet league. From 1946 to 1948 he played with Dinamo in the first Soviet league but in 1949 as it was merged with Daugava Rīga and promoted to the Soviet Top League
Sudmalis became a footballer for Daugava.
Over four seasons Sudmalis played 87 matches in the top Soviet league with Daugava and scored 1 goal. After the 1952 Daugava got relegated to the 1st Soviet league again, after one more season (with 9 appearances for Daugava) Sudmalis returned to Liepāja
where he joined Liepājas Metalurgs (former Daugava Liepāja). Sudmalis played with Sarkanais Metalurgs until 1959 when the club earned promotion to the second Soviet league, over these years winning the Latvian league title five times and the Latvian Cup two times.
After retiring from football Sudmalis worked in the Sarkanais Metalurgs metallurgy
factory. He died at the age of 68 in the autumn of 1990.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
defender, one of the most popular post-war footballers from Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
. Sudmalis is considered the most skillful footballer in the history of Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
, he had a good speed, tactical strength and he played well with the head.
Biography
Sudmalis started his career in Liepāja where he played with Olimpija LiepājaOlimpija Liepaja
Olimpija Liepāja was Latvian football club that in the 1920-1930s was one of the strongest in Latvia and with which played many Latvia national football team footballers. It was from the city of Liepāja.-History:...
from 1942 to 1944. After the Second World war when Olimpija was reformed as Daugava Liepāja
FHK Liepajas Metalurgs
FK Liepājas Metalurgs is a Latvian football club, based in the city of Liepāja and playing in the Virslīga. They play at the Daugava Stadium...
Sudmalis at first stayed with the club but in 1946 he was called up to Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
to join FK Dinamo Rīga which played in the Soviet league. From 1946 to 1948 he played with Dinamo in the first Soviet league but in 1949 as it was merged with Daugava Rīga and promoted to the Soviet Top League
Soviet Top League
The Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...
Sudmalis became a footballer for Daugava.
Over four seasons Sudmalis played 87 matches in the top Soviet league with Daugava and scored 1 goal. After the 1952 Daugava got relegated to the 1st Soviet league again, after one more season (with 9 appearances for Daugava) Sudmalis returned to Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
where he joined Liepājas Metalurgs (former Daugava Liepāja). Sudmalis played with Sarkanais Metalurgs until 1959 when the club earned promotion to the second Soviet league, over these years winning the Latvian league title five times and the Latvian Cup two times.
After retiring from football Sudmalis worked in the Sarkanais Metalurgs metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
factory. He died at the age of 68 in the autumn of 1990.